[3] Scientists are turning their attention to thorium, a cleaner and cheaper alternative to uranium.
Two years after the Fukushima disaster rocked the nuclear industry, the jury is still out in many countries on the role of atomic fuels.
Just two of Japan's 54 commercial nuclear plants are currently operational, while Germany has abandoned nuclear altogether. The price of uranium has also plummeted, making it unviable to get new mines off the ground.
But in the background, scientists are working on a cleaner, cheaper and safer alternative to uranium. It's even named after a god.
Thorium is more common in the Earth's crust than tin, mercury and silver - and three times more abundant that uranium. In fact, thorium, which is named after Thor, the Norse god of thunder, is so energy-dense that an individual can hold a lifetime's supply of electricity in the palm of their hand.
Around 14pc of the world's electricity is currently generated using nuclear power; in France, the figure is closer to 75pc. But with uncertainty over uranium prices, emissions targets to be met and a need to address post-Fukushima safety concerns, policymakers and the industry have been forced to think again.